Rivera Takes Command with Clean Four-Event Performance
Olympic team gold medalist Hezly Rivera established herself as the leader after Day 1 of the 2025 Xfinity U.S. Championships at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Rivera's 55.600 total gives her a 0.200 advantage heading into Sunday's final day, where scores from both days combine equally to determine the national champion.
Day 1 Key Results
- Rivera leads AA at 55.600 with highest beam score (14.350)
- Roberson in second at 55.400 with floor & bars leads
- Wong third at 55.100, leads on vault and top execution scores
- Top three separated by 0.500 points, setting up a high stakes finish
Roberson Delivers in Elite Return
Joscelyn Roberson's return to elite competition after her freshman NCAA season at Arkansas appears seamless. The Paris 2024 Olympic alternate, 1 of 2 Paris 2024 traveling 'replacement' athletes, delivered the day's top floor score (14.150) and tied for bars lead (13.650 with Alicia Zhou). Her 55.400 keeps her within striking distance of Rivera's heading into Day 2.
Wong's Precision Keeps her in the Hunt
Leanne Wong showcased the most polished, error-free gymnastics of the day, outscoring both Rivera and Roberson in execution on all four events — and doing so without a single neutral deduction. That across-the-board sharpness kept her within 0.500 of the lead despite starting with the lowest difficulty of the top three. The two-time Olympic alternate, also one of two traveling 'replacement' athletes for the Paris 2024 Games, posted a 55.100, powered by the competition’s highest vault average (13.675). Notably, she finished just 0.500 behind Rivera despite Rivera’s 1.8 advantage in difficulty and a mere 0.300 behind Roberson despite Roberson’s even greater 2.2 advantage. Wong’s ability to close the gap on higher-difficulty competitors through cleaner execution reinforces her status as a legitimate threat for both the all-around title and a World Championships berth.
Day 2 Competition Details
The championship concludes Sunday, August 11 at Smoothie King Center with competition beginning at 7:00 PM ET. Live coverage airs on NBC and Peacock. Scores from both days combine equally, making Sunday's performance critical for final standings. In addition to national titles, athletes are competing for positions that will influence World Team Selections in late September, determining the four-woman 2025 World Championships team.
What to Watch Sunday
Rivera's 0.200 lead provides a margin but must stay clean to fend off challengers. Roberson's difficulty edge on floor and bars and continued bars could help close the gap. Wong's unmatched execution, vault strength, and veteran poise performing under pressure could be the difference in a tight three-way race.
Selection Implications
Beyond the national title, performances at championships carry weight for World Championships team selection. The all-around winner at September's selection event earns an automatic team spot. The remaining three positions will be chosen based on nationals results, selection event scores, and other 2025 competition performances.